The Reheat: Texas bludgeons Clemson in round one of the College Football Playoff

Welcome to The Reheat, a weekly recap of the previous game, just popped out of the microwave. Look for it every Sunday-ish.

Before we really get rolling on today’s Reheat, I have a fun fact to share. I hope you’re sitting down for this…

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik grew up in Austin, mere minutes from Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.

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The announcers repeatedly bludgeoned the viewing audience over the head with this fact, which literally everyone watching the first-round playoff game already knew. Upon rewatch, I thought it would be funny to tally how many times Klubnik’s origin story was brought up, but I surrendered after it had been mentioned approximately 214 times. (I think the actual count was in the teens). The broadcast was committed to sharing it as if it was a verbal tic in their commentary.

The audience knew this already, but the announcing team kept sharing it—such was the Texas running game yesterday. Clemson and Dabo Swinney knew it was coming, but the Texas offensive line, Quintrevion Wisner, and Jaydon Blue just kept pounding the rock anyway, to the tune of 256 yards combined between them.

Blue’s two long touchdown runs deflated the Tiger defense and showed off his home run ability—the kind Texas fans expected at the beginning of the year. Obviously, the ankle injury and fumbling issues took away from the type of season we thought we were going to see from Blue, but he made up for it yesterday. He has me repeating the immortal words of Harry to Lloyd: “Just when I think you couldn’t be any …. you go and do something like this… AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!”

To complement the rushing attack, Quinn Ewers added the ultimate game manager performance. Klubnik’s performance tested the Longhorn defense more than they’ve been tested all season, but despite the leaky yardage, the defense still came up with big plays in huge moments.

But back to the run game, which was befitting of the stadium’s namesake. The legendary Royal was the type of coach and man who laid out his intentions plainly and acted on them—there was very little beating around the bush. Steve Sarkisian’s ideal team does the same thing. Through his recruiting, development, and play calling, Sark lays his offense’s plan bare. He then dares the defense to stop it. Clemson and Swinney didn’t have a prayer.

So, it’s back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the Longhorns, where they will get the opportunity to exorcise their demons against the Sun Devils. After a 38-24 victory in the first round and one of the best home atmospheres in Longhorns’ history, the fans can keep dreaming. There’s still life in this dream. A deep playoff run and national championship hopes are alive. And how Texas intends to achieve its ultimate goal was made clear in round one.

Fire The Cannon For: I would say the rushing attack, but I’ve already gone on about that, so I’ll say the environment at DKR. Driving to the game, my wife and I commented on how we were so thrown off about what time of year it was. To be on campus mere days before Christmas for a do-or-die playoff game was special. Much of the first round of the inaugural 12-team playoff fell short, but the games on campus did not disappoint—especially in Austin. The Longhorns rose to the enormous stakes, as did the crowd.

Horns Up on Offense For: The Gunnar Helm and Ewers connection, which is the most simpatico passer-to-tight-end connection I’ve ever seen at Texas. No offense to the great Vince Young and David Thomas.

Horns Up on Defense For: Barryn Sorrell. The senior is often forgotten behind more heralded young players on defense and late bloomers like Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton. But the New Orleans native had a massive game yesterday, with a huge sack and a pass deflection that turned into a pick by Colin Simmons.

An extra shout-out to big nose tackle Bill Norton, who had the massive goal-line stop late in the game.

Bevo’s Bucket For: I imagine if I were Sark’s martial arts instructor, he’d be an excellent pupil until he has his opponent all but defeated. When it’s time to finish his enemy off, I’d smile my wise sensei smile and say: “Good! Now step on his throat!”

But for some reason, Sark runs and grabs a fly swatter and starts hitting the guy in the stomach.

“NO!” I scream as the confused opponent starts to get back up and get into a fighting stance. “His throat, I said, with your foot! Step on his jugular with your foot!”

Why does he struggle to put opponents away? On the one hand, it’s the playoffs, and any victory will do. Plus, Swinney and Klubnik were playing to win. They identified a weakness in Malik Muhammad’s coverage and went to town the entire second half. The Tigers are a championship program who weren’t just happy to be there. They weren’t like Indiana, trying to save face. And Texas plays with its food.

After Simmons’ interception, Texas had the chance to go up 17 if they had let Bert Auburn kick a short field goal, albeit from the right hash mark. Three-score leads are huge, but Sark often displays ill-timed aggression whenever he has the chance to increase a deficit to three scores. It’s been a thorn in his side during his four years in Austin. It’s also when I have the biggest issue with his play calling. 

I don’t understand going for the fourth down when the defense has gifted the offense a free possession. Not getting anything there led to a weird game stretch that culminated in a Ewers interception off a dropped ball, Clemson points, and then multiple offensive line starters getting injured. For a second, it felt like the weird voodoo from the second half of the Kentucky game was back. But my biggest issue is that Sark doesn’t kick after the turnover, then decides on a field goal in the first possession of the second half when all it does is maintain a three-score lead. A touchdown would have put them up 25.

“The throat, I said, the throat!”

Schadenfreude of the Week: It’s Christmas, so no schadenfreude. We’re only putting joy into the world right now. I was thrilled for the Texas seniors who got to show out for their fans in Austin one last time. They’ve rebuilt this program, and yesterday was the proverbial icing on the cake that they and Sark baked. Do you mind if I use that phrase, Charlie Strong?

This Piping Hot Take Burned the Roof of My Mouth: I think there’s a two-year commitment to the auto-bye weeks only going to conference champions, but I’m going to go ahead and opine that promise isn’t honored again after this round of blowouts.

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Hype Train Level: I hope Texas doesn’t look past the Sun Devils and let Brick kill us with a trident, because it’s time to be Big 12 Champions again.